Mark 14:1-11

This short passage is very full of powerful moments. The priests are ready to commit judicial murder, but they are willing to wait till after the Passover if that will suit their purpose. But by God's Sovereign will there is no other time when the Lamb of sacrifice is to be slain.

Mary's costly gift indicates a heart fully given to the Lord. There were not many ways for her to express her love for the Lord, but what she could do she did do. This woman that Mark leaves unnamed, driven by her love is then compared to the parsimonious money counting disciples. Her simple, humble devotion is contrasted with these less purely motivated men. We might expect those closest to Jesus would have had the greatest devotion. Not so, these men had an agenda. 

“The poor you will always have with you” is a freeing statement. Jesus neither absolves the disciples of their responsibility to care nor does He indicate that the only proper way to use funds is for poverty relief. We are charged with caring for the poor, but nowhere does Scripture indicate that by our efforts alone poverty will be eradicated.

It is in this context that we see Judas begin the process of betrayal.  We often seem surprised when church leaders conduct themselves wickedly. We act as if this is a new or unusual behavior. But the consistent pattern of Scripture is that even among those nearest the Lord we find wicked men. How many times have we said, “I can't believe he or she or they did that?” Perhaps there is a better question to ask, “Will I be the one to betray my Lord or His church?”